Shuttle



M. P. DU PRAY.

SHUTTLE.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, I918- 1,357,969. I Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. P. DU PRAY.

SHUTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1918.

1,357,969. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

M. P. DU PRAY- SHUTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1918.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Q, My)

M. P. DU PRAY.

Patented N 0v..9, 1920. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Ii-Ii M. P. DU PRAY.

SHUTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1918.

1 357 9 9 Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

MAGLOIS P. DU PRAY, F TREN'ION, NEW JERSEY.

snurrnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1915. Serial No. 224,986.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAoLors P. DU PRAY, a citizen of the United States,residin at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and tate of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Shuttles, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shuttles and particularly to shuttles forcircular looms; and it comprises certain improvements in the bobbinholding mechanism, in the thread tensioning devices, and in the layer.

in my copending application Serial No. 72,152,, filed Jan. 14:, 1916, Ihave described and claimed certainprocesses of weaving multiply tubularfabric and apparatus therefore which comprises preliminarily weaving oneply around a weaving surface, advancing one ply to another weavingsurface and weaving a second ply upon the first ply, and apparatuscomprising a mechanism for weaving the plurality of plies as stated andfor advancing. one ply from one weaving surface to anot er weavingsurface and for withdrawing the woven fabric from the loom. In the saidcopending application I described shuttles, the details generally andspecifically of Which are the subject of this application.

In the circular loom to which reference has been made advantageouslythere are a plurality of sets of shuttles located at dif ferent levels,(when two such sets are used) one set traveling in one direction whilethe other set travels in the reverse direction, and while the shuttlesare of substantially the same construction, one is inverted with respectto the other, primarily for convenience in loading bobbins.

In the accompanying drawingsshowlng a specific embodiment of myinvention, h t

Figure 1 is an elevation of the lower tle partly broken away to showdetails;

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of one shuttle to show the method ofinserting the bobb1n;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper shuttles, parts being broken away toshow details of the drive; 4

Fig. 4c is a detail cross section through one halfrof the loom showingtheweaving pm 111 elevation;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of one of the shuttles along line VV of Fig.11,- showing the bobbin in section;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of the shuttle along line Vlof Fig. 11;

, Fig. 7 is a cross section of the shuttle along line VII of Fig. 11;showing an end View of the bobbin holder opening arm;

Fig. 8 is a cross section of one of the ball bearlng shuttlespreadersupports;

F 1g. 9 is a horizontal section through the center of the loom takenabove both sets of shuttles showing the upper and lower shuttle andtheir relative positions respecting the changlng of shed and showing thedirection of rotation;

Fig. 10 is a cross section of one of the weft thread tension equalizers;and 1 Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional plan View through the center ofthe loom showing one of the lower shuttles. v

Referring to the drawings, the standards 1 of the machine support aplurality of shuttle guides or raceway annular frames 3, 4c, 5 and 6 inwhich the shuttles travel over conical tracks 7. The brackets 8 of eachshuttle carryball bearing traction wheels 9 wh1ch comprise outer flangedball raceways lOprovided with an inwardly disposed stem or bolt 11 andthreaded portion 12 for clamping to the bracket 8 by nut 13. Eachtraction wheel also is provided with an inner flange ball raceway 14:which is threaded to feed the stem 11 and which acts as a locknut. Thisraceway may be adjustably clamped to take up all lost motion in the freebearing rings or treads 15 and 16 bear ing on the tapering shuttle'guidetracks. Lost motion can be taken up by releasing nut 13 and turning stem11 in raceway 14 by the hexagon socket 17, thus drawing rings 15 and 16together.

Advantageously felt or other washer 18 is placed between the halves ofthe wheels and packing 19 may be employed to prevent grease WOI'klIlgout and the lint from the threads working in. In shuttles as heretoforemade there are no successful expedients for taking up lost motion, andsince the shuttles must travel ata considerable rate there is alwaysmore or less wear. Accord, ing to my invention I provide the abovedescribed wear compensating device with a result that ultimately thereis less wear on the tracks and on the wheels because as slightwearoccurs the parts may be adjusted and the knocking which results inaugmenting the wear eliminated. The parallel sliding relation of theconical rings to the tracks is such that all chattering and attendantnoises are eliminated.

Patented Nov'.9,1l920.

35 ward extension 31., of which serves as a part other spools, cops'orother forms of spindle. 7 Each shuttle is provided with a frame or.

web 20 upon which is mounted the rack 21 adapted to mesh with drivingpinions 22, the rack and the pinions being cut spirally to eliminatesome of the noises prevalent where strai ht cut teeth are used. On theupper set of shuttles the racks are engaged on the outside by thepinions and on the lower set they are engagedon the inside by thepinions in order that the shuttles may be driven in opposite directions,upper and lower pinions for driving the sameshuttles being operated bythe same shafts.

The shuttles comprise nose pieces 23 which arein effect continuations ofthe shuttle body, but this body is made up of a plurality of sections ashereinafter described. In each shuttle, mounted upon the bracket 8 whichcarries the wheels 9, is the sleeve 24 slotted at 25 and carrying thecone center 26 provided with pin 27 projecting through the slot. Thecone center is normally spring pressed forwardly or out of the sleeve bymeans of the spring 28. *Pivotedupon the sleeve at 29 is a lever or arm30, the forof the shuttle frame when in normal position. This arm isprovided-I with a cam face 32 which is adapted to ride against the pin27 to force it rearwardly and thus to draw the cone center in the sleevewhen the arm is elevated (Fig. 2). At the extremity of the cam 32 is anotch 33 which fits the pin 27, the engagement serving to yieldinglyhold the lever or arm in elevated position and the cone 26 in retractedposition. The lower extremity of the arm or lever is provided with adepending portion of leg 34 which is adapted to engage the knee piece 35slidably connected to the bottom portion of the shuttle frame. The kneepiece is in' engagement with a slide 36 which in turn is in engagementwith a cup 37-and right hand cone center 38. Elevation of the lever 31forces the leg 34 toward the right and thus into engagement with theknee piece 35 which forces the slide 36 toward the right and this slidein turn forces the cup 37 and the cone center toward the right. Thelever spreads the two cone centers apart and permits the insertion andremoval of a bobbin E.

The cup' 37 surrounds the cone center 38 and is spring pressed towardthe opposite cone center by means of the spring 39. As

memes the bobbin unwinds the cup is gradually.

forced toward the left, and due to its curved shape it constantlyengages the periphery of the bobbin and serves to create a constant dragupon it.

Mounted upon the frame of the shuttle is a conical tension spindle 40over whichthe weft thread coming from the bobbin passes. This spindle(shown in detail in Fig. 10) is held free to revolve on adjustable post41 mounted in arm 42 fulcrumed on the ear 43 integral with the shuttleframe. Leather washer 44 is interposed between the'arm 42 and spindle 40against which the spindle rotates. The arm 42 is provided with a springequalizer connection 45 coupled. at 46 on arm 42, and having its otherend guided in socket 47 swiveled at 48 on the frame of the shuttle.Spring 45 interposed between the arm 42 and socket 47 imparts a downwardmovement to the spindle 40 when the thread in unwinding travels from oneend of the bobbin to the other, thus centralizing the thread andequalizing the lengthening and weft thread passes from the bobbin overthe spindle 40, and is preferably looped over it a number of times,thence over the sheave wheel .49 towthe conical grooved tension wheels50 and 51; and such thread may be passed back and forth'over theselatter two Wheels until the proper tension is obtained. Tension wheels50 and 51 are freely mounted on studs 52 and 53 on an arm 54 of theframe and the'surface ofthe wheel is pressed. against friction washers55 by springs adjustable by nuts 57. From the tension wheels 50 and 51the weft. or filling thread from the bobbin passes through guide or eye58 and alternately under and over spring tension fingers 59 and thenover wheel 60 throughthe e e 61 of the layer. The layer 62 is prefera ly.a rigid bar adjustably secured near the nose of the shuttle by means ofthe bolt 63 and slot connection 64. It is spring pressed at itsextremityagainst the fabric and toward the weaving pin by means of thecompensating arm. This arm comprises a bolt'65 pivoted at 66 to an ear67 preferably integral with that end of the layer. The bolt isadjustable in a socket 68 by means of a nut 69 and held in place by locknut 70'. The socket 68 rides in the sleeve 71 and is spring pressedtoward the weaving pin by means of the spring 72 having one end bearingagainst the shoulder portion 73 of the socket and the other end againstthe face 74 of the cup 75 which is attached to the loom frame by meansof the inaneea siderable vibration in the shuttle and even though theremay ultimately be some wear in the working parts. I

To assist in alining the layer and shuttle and to equalize the weight ofthe same or to balance the shuttle for the, purpose of taking off someof the stress from the traction wheels, I provide additional tractionwheels 78 for the layer-located near the weaving pin. In actual use Iprovide six of these. wheels spaced equally around the weaving pin andthus the layer arm will always have a bearing on two or more of thesewheels. The layer will tend to pack the weft thread as it rotates aroundthe weaving pin and is firmly but yieldably held against the threads bymeans of these wheels 78. These wheels are pivoted at 79 and havea'shelf 80 projecting from the arm 81. A coil spring 82 which serves toyieldingly hold the layer in proximity with the weaving pin is locatedbetween this shelf and the loom frame.

The traction wheels 78 are preferably conical in sha, e and arerotatably mounted upon the shafts 83 having the ball bearings 84 and 85(in Fig. 8). -The weaving pin is shown at 86. The weftthreads areindicated by the reference letter A while the warp threads are indicatedby the reference letter B. The warp threads are operated by the heddles87 and 88 shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and 9, but thoroughlydescribed in the copending application hereinbefore referred to. Whenthe shed is properly made the shuttles pass through the shed,

' feed the weft thread to the layer which in turn packs it in positionbetween the warp iii) ' substantially the same in construction.

threads against the weaving pin, whereupon the shed is crossed and theoperation is repeated.

In describing the detail parts ll have stated their functions and it istherefore not necessary to give the operation of the shuttle. While theshuttle is particularly advantageous in connection with circular loomsdescribed and claimed in my said copending application it is susceptibleof use in other looms and is not to be considered as limited to use inthe relations shown. The 11 per The different features of the uppershuttles are the internal racks on one shuttle frame and the externalracks on the other to permit rotation in the opposite direction; and oneshuttle is inverted with relation to the other. Since the warp threadspass over the shuttle frame they must be removed in order to insert abobbin. The operator in inserting a bobbin in the upper shuttle canoperate from the upper side, the upper shuttle arm 31 opens upwardly andcarries with it the warp threads which lie across it, while the lowershuttle arm opens downwardly as shown in dotted lines in li'ig. 8.

shuttle and the lower shuttle are ll have necessarily shown certaindetails of the loom in combination with these shut- .a nose at one endand carrying oppositely disposed spool-holding members, a spool ofthread carried thereby, and means for simultaneously releasing saidspool holding members from engagement with the spool.

2. In a loom, shuttle mechanism comprising a loom carriage, a shuttlecarried thereby,'said shuttle comprising a frame having a nose at oneend and carrying oppositely disposed spool-holding members, a spool ofthread carried thereby, one of said spool holding members beingyieldingly carried by said frame and adapted to embrace the periphery ofsaid spool and to exert a substantially constant pressure on said spoolas it decreases in diameter due to the unwinding of the threadtherefrom.

3. A shuttle comprising a frame, oppositely disposed spool-holdingmembers carried thereby, said members provided with means for engagingopposite ends of a spool of thread, one said means provided withmechanism for withdrawing it from theend of the spool of thread withwhich it is in engagement and connections between said last mentionedmeans for the other spool en'- gaging means for simultaneouslywithdrawing the last mentioned spool engaging means.

a. in a shuttle, oppositely disposed bobbin centers and bracketstherefor, means for spreading said centers apart comprising a main armpivotally attached to one bracket and having a cam surface, a pincarried by one center, adapted to be engaged by said surface, anauxiliary arm carried by the main arm, a slidable knee piece carried bysaid shuttle connections between said knee piece and the other center,whereby movement of the arm will cause retraction of the first saidcenter through engagement of the said cam and said pin and retraction ofthe second said center through engagement of said auxiliary arm and saidknee piece, and means tending normally to yieldingly force said centerstoward each other to engage opposite ends of a spool.

A shuttle, comprising in combination 6. A shuttle, comprising incombination with a shuttle body and bobbin, oppositely its projectingcenters mounted in said body. means normally pushing said centers for-Wardly into operative contact with the bobbin, and means forsimultaneously retracting said centers.

7. A shuttle, comprisingin combination:

with a shuttle body, oppositely projecting centers mounted in said body,a bobbin positioning cup surrounding one of said centers, a retractingdevice. operative on the other center, and means interposed between saidretracting device and said other center and ts associatedpositioning,cup for retractmg the latter simultaneously with the first center.

8. In a loom shuttle, comprising in combina tlon with a shuttlebody,oppositely projecting centers slidably mounted in said body,

spring meansnormally pushing said centers.

toward one another, a cam lever mounted ad acent one of said centers andoperative thereon to retract the pin as the cam lever operative on bothof said centers to simultaneously retract the latter, and means carriedby said cam lever for closing the shuttle, said shuttle closing meansalso acting as a warp'thread liftingv device when the shuttle is opened.4

10. A shuttle comprising in combination with a body, oppositelyprojecting centers in said body, and means operative on both of saidcenters for retracting the'latter, said retracting means alsoconstituting a shuttle closing device and serving to lift the warpthreads away from said shuttle when the latter is opened.

11. A shuttle, comprising in combination with a shuttle body, oppositelyprojecting centers mounted in opposite e ds of said shuttle body,spring-means no ally pushing said centers toward one another, a camlever mounted in the shuttle body and hav ing a cam surface operativeagainst one 0f said centers to retract the latter, a sllde connected tothe opposite center and an element carried bysaid cam lever for engagingsaid slide to retract the opposite center simultaneously with the firstcenter, and a shuttle closing arm carried. by said cam I lever, said camlever retracting said centers when said closing arm is moved intoopening' position. J

12. A shuttle, comprising in combination with a shuttle body, oppositelyprojecting centers mounted in said body, means for pushing said centerstoward one another,

memes means for retracting said centers, and a positioning cupsurrounding one of said centers, said positionin cup being constructedto engage the perip eral portion of a bobbin, and moving with itrespective center to exert a diminishing p essure on the bobbin as thediameter of the later decreases.

13. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination with a shuttle and a bobbin,of a regulating device for centralizing the feed of the thread from thebobbin and equalizing its tension, said regulating device consisting ofa revoluble spindle positioned opposite the bobbin to receive the slackof the thread from the latter, a post carrying said spindle, and aspring equalizer operating between said post and the shuttle in positionto permit the spindle to yield with thepull of the thread.

14:. The combination with a shuttle mechanism, of a shuttle and abobbin, and a device for centralizing the feed of the thread deliveredfrom said bobbin and equalizing the tension thereof, said deviceconsisting of a conical spindle, a post fulcrumed on said shuttleandrevolubly supporting sald spindle, and a spring connectlon between.said post and said shuttle t0..permit said spindle to yield under thepull of p the thread.

15. lin a shuttle mechanism, a shuttle frame, shuttles carried by saidshuttle frame, a layer associated with each shuttle, and a I at yieldingcompensating device connected to each layer and bearing there-againstwith a radial pressure to pack the weft thread.

16. In a shuttle mechanism, a shuttle frame, shuttles carried by saidshuttle frame, a layer associated with each of said; shuttles, and ayielding compensatlng device bearing between each layer and the shuttleframe in a radial direction to cause the layer to pack the weft threadwith a uniform pressure. I

.17. Ina shuttle mechanism, a shuttle frame, shuttles carried by saidframe, a layer associated with each shuttle, and a cushionedcompensating device mounted between each layer and the shuttle frame toexert a uniform pressure upon the layers.

18. The combination with a shuttle frame and a weft layer carriedthereby, of a cushioned compensating device interposed between saidlayer and said shuttle frame for eliminating the vibration of the layer.

19. The combination with a shuttle frame and a weft layer, ofa'compensating device interposed between said layer and said shuttleframe, said compensating device consisting of telescoped elements and aspring member normally pushing said telescoped "elements aparts,'wherebyvibration of the layer is avoided.

20. The combination with a shuttle framei and a layer carried thereby,of a compeniea'aece sating device interposed between said frame, saidcompensating device consisting of a member connected to said layer, asecond member connected to said shuttle frame, and an expansion springinterposed between said members .to push said layer, and said shuttleframe apart.

21. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination with a shuttle frame, of ashuttle, a layer, a raceway for the shuttle frame, a support for thelayer, a thread feed equalizer mounted opposite the shuttle, threadtension rollers interposed between said equalizer and the layer, threadtensioning fingers carried by the layer, and a yielding compensatingdevice located between the frame and the layer to eliminate vibration ofthe layer.

22. In a shuttle mechanism, the combination with a shuttle frame, of ashuttle carried by said frame, a layer also carried by said frame, aresiliently mounted thread feed equalizer mounted opposite said shuttle,guide and tension rollers carried by said in said raceways, tread ringsadapted to re-' volve on said bearings and means for ad-' justing theraceways' and thus the tread rings to compensate for wear.

25. Traction wheels for shuttle carriages for looms comprisingoppositely disposed flanged r'aceways, oppositely disposed flanged treadrings mounted 1n said raceways, bearings between the racewa s and thetread, a bolt connecting the said anged raceways together and to thesaid carriage and a nut for adjusting the bolt.

26. In a loom shuttle mechanism comprise ing a carriage having a frame,traction ,Wheels secured to said frame, said Wheels comprisingcomplementary tread portlons adjustable with respect to each other.

27. Ina loom shuttle mechanism comprising a carriage having a frame,traction wheels and means secur'ng them to said frame,-said wheels compising complementary tread portions adjustable with respect to each otherthrough the means securing them to the frame.

28.. A'traction wheel for a shuttle carriage comprising complementarytread portions, a washer between said tread portions and means foradjusting said tread portions with respect to each other. 1

29. A shuttle, comprising in combination with a shuttle body, oppositelyprojecting centers slidably mounted in said body, means for normallypushing said centers toward each other, and means for simultaneouslyretracting said centers and normally forming a part of the body of theshuttle for inclosing the bobbin.

30. A shuttle, comprising in combination with a shuttle body and bobbin,oppositely projecting centers mounted in said body,

means for normally pushin toward each, other, and a pivoted member forsimultaneously retracting said centers said centers and normallyforminga part of the shuttle closing the opening'through which the bobbin isinserted in the shuttle.

31. A'shuttle, comprising in combination with a shuttle body, oppositelyprojecting centers slida'blymounted in said body, spring means normallyholding the centers inwardly toward each other, a cam lever pivotedadjacent one of said centers and operative thereon to'retract the samewhen the lever is moved, said lever adapted to form closing means fortheo ening in the shuttle through which the bob in is passed in theinsertion thereof, and means connected to the said center for operatingthe other center whereby the centers are simultaneously retracted.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

MAGLOIS I. DU PRAY.

